There is nothing wrong with a burkini
When you take a photograph of someone without their consent, they become victims, as the picture is out of their control and power (‘Corsica too bans burkini after clashes’, Gulf News, August 16). Therefore, this behaviour is a violation of a person’s right to privacy. So, it follows the same logic — the photographed women in burkinis were the victims here. When they opposed the person taking photographs, they acted in self-defence. Apparently, the situation got out of control and resulted in a fight. What is the reaction of the French authorities? They prohibit burkinis and thus punish the victims. Appropriate action would have been to prohibit the photography of strangers on the beach without their consent.
The burkini ban is a disgrace. In a free and liberal society, the harm principle applies. According to this principle, the only reason why power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his/her will, is to prevent harm to others. When a woman wears a burkini, she does not harm other people. So the burkini ban is wrong, and should be repealed immediately.
From Mr Michael Pfeiffer
UAE
A silly accusation!
American television show host Ellen DeGeneres has always been good to everyone and you can see how she helps everyone through her show (‘Ellen DeGeneres called racist after Olympic post’, Gulf News, August 18). This controversy is just silly, and it is absurd to accuse her of racism. I feel this is just a result of social media manipulating everything and giving a bad tint to things that people post.
From Ms Lai Marquez
UAE
Facebook comment
Logic out the window
I agree that DeGeneres was not being racist. The American media and society has been picking every single thing apart, and focusing on the most ridiculous topics lately. Please don’t do the same. It’s getting so ridiculous.
From Ms Kelsey Torpey
UAE
Facebook comment
How you see things
It depends on how people decide to perceive the photoshopped image of her and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. You can think of it as a white person making an African American carry her. Or you can simply look at it as two friends having a laugh. I see unity, not racism.
From Mr Ada Ali
Dubai
Facebook comment
They are friends
It’s true, Mr Ada Ali. It’s not racism and they are friends, for crying out loud!
From Mr Wan Bihfon
UAE
Facebook comment
A reliable source
I don’t agree with Mr Babu Das’ views that the newspaper is fabricating news stories (‘Ask the newsroom: Why the negativity?’, Gulf News, August 17). Since 1991, I have been a reader of Gulf News and have never noticed any news that has been inaccurate. They use news stories from reliable agencies and the readers are aware about it. The reader should be more aware and see what is happening in India — there are issues like the beef ban, violence against Dalits, intolerance and an increasing number of rapes and atrocities against woman, which the reader may or may not be aware of. In India, the press is considered to be the fourth state and their coverage strengthens democracy.
Kudos to Gulf News in reporting the hard facts and I hope to see more. I always see that the newspaper is not biased in their reporting, irrespective of any country and it’s always an inspiration for millions of readers.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Long way to go for Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech mentioned how many villages have benefited from electricity, and also talked about the 20 million toilets built in his two years in power (‘20 million toilets built in two years: Indian PM’, Gulf News, August 16). However, this development of sanitation may not be adequate for the entire population of India. Still, sanitary issues are a big concern and its improvement should be sped up to avoid diseases. In the seven-decade history since India’s independence, the country has seen rapid development in the past two years, as per Modi’s strategy. Electricity is still a question for many villages. Electricity, toilets and inflation should be taken care of, without further delay, for better living conditions. With this development, will the Indian Prime Minister prove his determination for the targets set for these areas? We will have to wait and see.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Outcome remains the same
All US politicians are the same (‘Opinion cartoon: Trump’s plan’, Gulf News, August 17). They are different faces of the same system. Get ready for more global unrest after the arrival of the new US president, regardless of who is elected.
From Mr Zeeshan Tahir
Dubai
Facebook comment
Parking availability
Great work by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) for cracking down on these abandoned vehicles (‘264 warnings to owners for leaving vehicles unattended’, Gulf News, August 16)! Make more space for people who actually need the parking spaces.
From Mr Abdin Ahmad
London, UK
Facebook comment
Long term vacations?
Where am I supposed to park my car if I’m leaving the country for a month or more, on vacation? Maybe I should go on a project for my company, to another country.
From Mr Farhan Shaikh
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
It’s just not right
It’s not right for a man to marry his mother-in-law (‘Man who married mother-in-law wants divorce’, Gulf News, August 17). I hope he divorced his wife, so that his new wife wasn’t also his current mother-in-law. Still, it’s so embarrassing. How could he look at his wife’s mother as his spouse? Just so everyone understands, marrying one’s mother-in-law, and even cousins, is not allowed, in Hinduism.
From Ms Nisha Vetrivel
Dubai
Facebook comment
Equivalent to his mother
Make sure you know the whole story, Ms Nisha Vetrivel. He did not divorce his wife. His wife was staying with her father and he married his mother-in-law. According to the Hindu marriage act, a second marriage is not permissible, but he had a second marriage with his mother-in-law anyway. This is too much. Now, he realises his mistake. I think the court has to nullify this marriage. The mother-in-law is the equivalent of his mother. We pray to God that he continue his married life with his actual wife.
From Mr Abdullah Mohammad
UAE
Facebook comment
What’s wrong?
Everyone is so quick to judge. So what? Two people fell in love, why is that your business? They are not blood relatives. Surely, it’s better to get married than have an affair behind their spouses’ backs. Underage girls marry and that is worse than this case.
From Ms Alex Morgan
UAE
Facebook comment
Mistakes made
Actually, they were having an affair behind their spouses’ backs, Ms Alex Morgan. The funny thing is that now they want to divorce each other after 15 days of marriage and return to their earlier spouses. They say they made a mistake. The woman is married to her daughter’s husband. I think this isn’t so normal.
From Mr Guler Shaikh
UAE
Facebook comment
Shameful
It’s really a shame and perhaps they are not educated. Unfortunately, realising what they have done will never change anything, because they have been a couple.
From Ms Vithaldas Geeta
Port Louis, Mauritius
Facebook comment
An irreplaceable void
One of the renowned scriptwriters of Malayalam cinema in India, T.A. Razak, who has touched hearts with tales of human struggle, has died. Razak was a recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Story three times. The famous directors of Malayalam films are of the opinion that they could produce their best films when they collaborated with him. He has created an irreplaceable void in the Malayalam movie industry. May his soul rest in peace.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
Mastering alien pitches
No doubt, with a mass change, India’s Virat Kohli was able to seal the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship series in Saint Lucia (‘We’ll play with more positive intent in fourth Test, Kohli says’, Gulf News, August 15). However, I really pity Cheteshwar Pujara. No doubt his overseas average might be very poor, as compared to his healthy average in India. They were five down for 126. Fortunately, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha had a fruitful partnership and bailed out the team. India definitely lacks a solid wall at number three and Pujara is the best for the present. Ironically, they even overlooked a fit Murli Vijay, who could have opened and allowed K. L. Rahul to bat at three, and preferred Rohit Sharma, who is worse than Pujara in alien pitches. I hope good sense prevails upon the selectors and they pick Pujara for the fourth test to give him ample opportunity to shine!
From Ms Janaki Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Editor’s note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet to us @GNReaders.
